I write about ‘yes’ a lot, I wrote a whole book about ‘yes’, and there’s a lot of positivity in my outlook. I will admit that ‘yes’ is hard sometimes. I’m human and sometimes I just want to pack it in (or at least crumple in a heap for a while).
This post is a reminder that 1. you’re human 2. you can 3. you’re not alone 4. I’m not alone 5. I’m jolly grateful for that thought, because it keeps me going on days when it’s all a bit tough.
Here’s some context:
Today is the Winter Solstice. That’s exciting, and we just had a beautiful full moon teh other evening. The air is crispy, there are Christmas lights outside and inside there are lots of really tasty little oranges that somehow make it feel a little bit closer to somewhere like California. The Solstice also means it was the shortest day in teh Northern Hemisphere, and for where I am (just south of the 50º North latitude line) there were precisely 8 hours of daylight. Somehow that was not actually too bad, but there is a lot of darkness and 6pm can feel like midnight. That combbined with the crazy pandemic numbers and a healthy dose of ordinary life and work commitments can make the pursuit of my own ‘yes’ feel so far reaching sometimes.
I had a good (positive) reminder today when I started sounding like someone who had momentarily lost her ‘yes’. – There was some memorable quote on a meme that said:
You believed in Santa for 10 years. You can believe in yourself for 10 seconds.
Ha! How true is that?!?
I am reminded to that ‘Yes’ takes time, takes constant reminders to keep going, takes noticing progress to stay motivated. That’s a lot. It’s no wonder people give up on stuff. So is there a secret? A secret solution to doing stuff, to staying on the path to ‘yes’? – (whatever your yes might be) I think so. Things like abiding by truisms of putting on your own mask before helping others, or how can you share your cup if it’s empty, or … you can imagine any number of those sorts of sayings…. They remind me (and you!) to breathe.
I think the secret to keeping on track with your ‘yes’ is in noticing how you work, how you are, what you need, and allowing yourself to use those processes or mechanisms taht do help you. It could be phoning a friend, keeping a journal, making small goals, saying something out loud, or even just smiling at yourself in the mirror. It could be a little thing or a big thing. Whatever it is, it can be your thing. It’s your ‘yes’ after all.
‘Yes’ is definitely a way of life, and it takes having a long view. That’s something a little more daring than it sounds- because it’s not always the popular way. For now, just don’t give up. As for where I am, I can say with confidence there will be a little more light tomorrow.
Here’s to the pursuit of your ‘yes’, each and every day.
(image CC BY by Nina Hale)